Tulsa Graffiti Cleanup, New Jobs, and Community Coming Together in Tough Times - Local Pulse Saturday Update

Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for Saturday, September 13. We’ve got plenty to cover, so let’s start with breaking news out of downtown. Tulsa’s new graffiti cleanup program is ramping up efforts to keep our city looking sharp. Thanks to a $250,000 federal grant, crews have already cleaned over 40 properties, with more than 100 still waiting their turn. City hall just allocated even more funds to fight graffiti—an extra hundred thousand dollars for next year, and contractors are equipped with new paint-matching trailers and more staff. Mayor Monroe Nichols says this is more than wall cleaning—it’s restoring pride and making folks want to invest and live right here in Tulsa. On the weather front, skies are partly cloudy as we wake up, with a high near 84 expected today. Afternoon outdoor plans look solid, but keep an umbrella handy as scattered showers may move in around sunset. We’re watching a warm pattern with possible storms Sunday, so take advantage of today’s sun if you can. For those following job numbers, Tulsa’s unemployment rate has ticked down slightly again, now sitting just below 4 percent. Local manufacturing firms along Admiral Place and Memorial Drive have reported hiring dozens for new shifts, and we’re seeing restaurant openings in the Cherry Street and Brookside districts. Speaking of new business, a specialty bakery just opened near Utica Square, drawing crowds for its gluten-free selections. Over in East Tulsa, a long-time thrift store on 21st Street is closing after 30 years, making way for a new sporting goods retailer—which plans to hire at least 15 staff. Looking ahead to community events, we’re hosting the 2025 USA Boxing National Open tournament all week at the Cox Business Convention Center downtown. You can watch some of the best amateur fighters in the nation throw down through next Friday. Schools across the city report big news as well. Glenpool’s fourth-grade football team is rallying after tragedy struck their community—a deadly accident earlier in the week claimed young Talyn Bain. The team’s home game today at 151st and Warrior isn’t just about football, it’s a show of support, with rival Kiefer’s school joining in solidarity by wearing Glenpool blue. Volunteers have raised thousands for the Bain family, reminding us how our communities rally in times of need. Tulsa Golden Hurricane football fans, we’ve got a big night ahead as Navy comes to Skelly Field. The odds makers favor Navy, but Tulsa’s determined to bounce back after last week's loss. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., so expect traffic backups around University Avenue and the stadium. Not to be outdone by football, the University of Tulsa’s women’s basketball team has scored an invite to the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship this fall. After finishing strong in last season’s conference games, they’re fired up for international competition. Good luck to the Golden Hurricane ladies. On the real estate front, the average price for a home along Riversid This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.